Deep-well-drilling machine



P. A. HUNICKE 1,799,559

April 7, 1931.

DEEP WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 .III

J RAJ/um April 7, 1931. P. A. HUNICKE I 1,799,559

"DEEP WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTbRNEYs April 7, 1931. P. A. HUNICKE 1,799,559

DEEP WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \NVENTOR ff A fla /am ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE I PAUL A. HUNICKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE HUNICKE (30., A COR- POBATION OF ILLINOIS DEEP WELL-DRILLING mncnmn Application filed January 8, 1928. -Serial No. 244,278.

has novel means for packing the walls of the hole, thus preventing the walls from cavlng.

in when the device is removed from the hole.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which removes the mud and loosened substance from the hole during the operation thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which has novel means for cutting a large space in the sand at the bottom of the well,

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following'specification, and the novel 53 features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, a portion thereof being shown in section,

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the main portion of my device,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the drill bit, Figure 4 is an end elevation of the drill bit,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of'a portion of my device,

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a portion of my device, Y

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view of the casing and housing,

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a portion of my device,

. Figure 9 is a sectional view throu h a portion of the construction shown in igure 8, and

Figure 10 is a wiring diagram. 7

' In carrying out my invention, I provide a supporting frame 1 having a. base 2, a top 3, and motor supports 4. A pulley 5 is re- 'metal casing filled with lead, is

tatably mounted upon the top 3 and is arranged to receive a conductor supporting cable 6. The conductor sup orting cable 6 has one end secured to the drilling unit 7.

The drilling unit is composed of a housing 8 formed of'semi-cylindrical portions 9 and 10 which have outwardly extending flange portions 11 provided with a plurality of openings. The semi-cylindrical portions 9 and 10 may be. rigidly secured to each other byany suitable means, such as bolts or'rivets. A plurality of motors 12 is mounted concentric with a motor shaft 13. Between each of the motors are provided bearing supports 14 through which the motor shaft 13 extends and by means of which the motor shaft is held against lateral displacement. Mercury flywheels 15 and 16 are mounted upon the motor shaft 13 above and beneath the motors; A motor gear 17 is rigidly mounted upon the lower end of the motor I shaft.

A driven shaft 18 is supported against lateral displacement by a plurality of bearing supports 19. The upper end ofthe driven shaft 18 is provided with a square shaped portion 20 upon which a collar 21 is disposed. A set screw 22 is disposed in the collar 21 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed. The lower end of the motor shaft 13 is also provided with a squared portion 23. The motor or drive shaft 13 is supported by the driven shaft 18, or rather by a ball bearing 24 which is disposed between the adjacent ends of the shafts and which is receivable in arcuate-shaped recesses therein.

A pair 'of substance-removing pumps 25 and 26 is rigidlymounted upon. the driven shaft 18 within compartments 27 and 28, respectively. An agitating-pump 29 is wlthin a compartment 30.

A weight end or bottom 31, which may be constructed of any'suitable material, but which ispreferably constructed of a sheet thelower extremity of the housin 8. The weight end is provided with a conical-shapedinner portion 32 through which the driven shaft 18 extends. A series of propellers I33 rigidly mounted upon the driven shaft 18 disposed at I I 36 and 37 of the bit.

is mounted upon the driven shaft 18 within the conical-shaped inner portion 32. A. bit 34 is pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the driven shaft 18, see Figures 3 and 4. The lower end of the shaft 18 is provided with an enlarged portion 35 having cutaway portions arranged to receive jaw members The jaw members are provided with teeth-retaining plates 38 and 39,-respectively, which are arranged to re ceive a plurality of teeth 40. The plates 38 and 39 may be removably secured to the jaw members 36 and 37 by any suitable means, not shown. Tension springs 41 and 42 have their upper ends secured to the enlarged portion and their lower ends secured to the jaw members 36 and 37, respectively. Stop portions 43 and 44 are carried by the jaw members 36 and 37 for engaging with the enlarged portion 35 for limiting the movement outwardly of the jaws. Abutments 45 and 46 are carried by the jaws 36 and 37 respectively, for limiting the inward movement of the jaws. are disposed upon the upper surfaces of the jaw members 36 and 37 for a purpose hereinafter described.

An auxiliary shaft 49 is removably disposed in the housing 8 and is provided with a gear 50 which is arranged to be in mesh with the gear 17 of the motor shaft and a relatively small pinion 51 which is in mesh with a ring gear 52. The ring gear 52 is mounted upon the driven shaft 18 adjacentthe upper end thereof.

A pipe 53 extends from a point adjacent the drill bit 34 through the weight end 31 and is in communication with each of the compartments 27, 28 and 30. A return pipe 54 also has one end positioned in close proximity to the drill bit 34 and extends through the weight end 31. The other end of the return pipe 54 is in communication with the compartment 30. A pipe 55 is in communication with the compartments 27 and 28 and extends upwardly and has its upper end in communication with a separator 56. The separator 56 is of the ordinary type for separating water from other substances. A water outlet 57 is provided for the separator. A substance outlet 58 extends from the separator 56 and empties into a container 59. The container 59 is provided with an inwardly extending recess portion 60 which is arranged to extend around the cable 6, see Figure 6.v

A casing 61, which may be formed of a plurality of sections, is disposed concentric with the housing 8 and is provided with guide grooves 62 for receiving the flanges 11 of the housing. A plurality of rollers 63 is rotatably carried by spring members 64 having outwardly turned end portions 65 and which are pivotally mounted at 66 upon the casing 61.

Rollers 47 and 48' A switch 67 is disposed in the weight end 31 and is provided with a rounded end arranged to engage with the casing 61. A switch 68 is carried by the housing 8 and is in engagement with the casing 61.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. In Figure 10, ll have shown a wiring diagram illus trating the motors 12, a motor 69 of the separator 56. and motors-70 and 71 which operate in unison and which are operatively connected to the casing 61 by means of cables 72 and 73, respectively. In Figure 10, the switch 68 is shown in closed position and is held in closed position as long as the switch is in engagement with the casing 61. The switch 67 is shown in closed position and is held in closed position until the casing 61 engages therewith and opens the switch. Therefore, a circuit is closed, permitting a source of current to pass through the motors 12 and the motor 69. The cable 6, as heretofore stated, serves as a conductor for the source of current and also supports the main portion of the device. Let us assume that the source of current is passing through the motors 12. The energizing of the motors causes a rotation of the motor shaft 13 together with the mercury flywheels 15 and 16. At the beginning of the rotation of the motors, the mercury in the mercury flywheels 15 and 16 is at the bottom of each of the flywheels, but, as the momentum of the flywheels increases, the mercury passes upwardly and outwardly and serves as a weight for the flywheels when in their increased.

rotative motion.

The rotation of the motor shaft 13 causes the rotation of the gear 7, and, as the gear 50 is in mesh with the gear 7, the stub shaft 49 and the pinion 51 will be rotated. Rotation of the pinion 51 will rotate the ring gear 52 and the driven shaft 18. The ratio between the ring gear 52 and the pinion 51 is such that the driven shaft 18 is rotated at a much slower rate of speed than the motor shaft. As the driven shaft 18 is rotated, the

housing is lowered, allowing the bit 34 to dig into the ground. As the drill bit 34 moves downwardly into the ground, water is placed within the drilled opening in the ground and caused to mix with the loosened substance by means of the propellers 33. The water is further mixed with the loosened substance by means of the mixing pump 29 which draws the water and loosened substance through the pipe 53 into the compartment 30, mixing the water thoroughly with the loosened substance, and breaking the loosened substance in smaller portions and forcing the water with the loosened substance through the pipe 54 back into the drilled opening.

Thepumps 25 and 26 draw the mixed watil ter and loosened substance through the pipe 53, into the compartments 27 and 28, and force the loosened substance through the'pipe and into the separator 56. In the separator, the water is separated from the loosened The motors and 71 operate in the usual manner in which the ordinary type of elevator motors operate; is ,e., they allow the casing, due to its weight, to move downwardly in the opening. The purpose of the movement of the casing within the drilled opening is to cause the rollers 63 to contact with the wall of the openingand to pack the wall of the opening so that it will not cave in when the device is removed therefrom. The downward movement of the casing may be limited by the switch 67 that is, when the casing engages with the switch 67 the switch will be 0 nedthus breaking the circuit and stopplng the rotation of the drill bit. The operator may then close another circuit to reverse the rotation of the motors 70 and 71 so that the casing 61 is raised. Markers 74 and 75- are disposed upon the cables 6 and 72, respectively. The purpose of the markers 74 and 75 is to indicate to the operator the position of the casing with respect to the housing.

When the opening is -drilled the desired depth, the housing and the parts contained therein may be removed from the opening and the drill bit 34 may be removed from the driven shaft 18 by a threaded connection indicated at 76. A widening drill bit. or scoop 77 is then secured to the lower end of the driven shaft 18. The drill scoop 77 is provided with hollow arms 78. arranged to receive scooping members 79 and adjustably secured in lace by bolts 80. The scoopin members 9 are provided with cup-shaped ends 81 having weighted portions 82. The arms 78 are pivotally secured at--83 so that they may be rawn in substantial alignment with the driven shaft as the housing is again lowered into the opening. I

' The stub shaft 49, together with the pinion 51 and thegear 50, is removed from the housing or moved so that the-gear 50 is out of mesh with the gear 17 and the pinion 51 is out of mesh with the ringgear 52... The sleeve 21 is then raised so thatatwill receive the adjacent ends of the motor shaft 13 and moved into close engagement with the'shafts and they are locked together. By lowering the housing into the opening, the guide grooves 62 are so positioned that the flanges llof the housing will be received therein and the housing guided to the desired position. When the housing has been lowered to the desired position, the circuit is closed, allowing a source of current to energize the motors 12 and the 'motor 69. The energizing of the motors 12 causes a rotation of the motor shaft 13, and, due to the fact that the driven shaft '18 is directly connected to the motor shaft through the sleeve 21, the motor shaft and the drill scoop. 77 are rotated at a relatively fast rate of speed. The weighted ends 82 cause the arms 78 to move outwardly into engagement with the walls of the opening. In this manner, a portion of the wall of the openin is made larger. The enlarged portion- 0 the opening may be increased in height by raising the housing the desired distance. The drill scoop maybe adjusted as often as desired by loosening the bolts and allowin the scooping portions to be moved outwar ly and then again locking them in place by the bolts. In this manner, the enlarged portion of the opening may be increased in size many times the diameter of the original drilled opening. It is obvious that the scooping portions may be drawn toward each other as the housing is lowered into the opening and that the rapid rotation of the shafts will cause the scooping members.

due to the weighted portions 82, to swing outwardly about the pivot 83.

I claim: g I

1. A device of the ty e described comprising a vertical cylin rical casing and a vertical tubular casing, said tubularcasing being disposed within and spaced away from said cylindrical casing, said tubular casing being rovided with longitudinally extending anges receivable in a groove formed by longitudinally extendmg flanges on the inner side of the cylindrical casing whereby said tubular casing is slidable within the cylindrical casing, a vertical shaft mounted within the tubular casing,

said shaft being rovided with power means. the lower end of said shaft being connected with a drill bit whereby a cylindrical hole may be drilled in the ground, pumps mounted on said shaft within the tubular easing, a

receptacle mounted onsaid tubular casing, a

separator disposed above the receptacle and in,-; communication with said pumps, said spaced-a art 0 lindrical casing and tubular casin being a apted for permitting water to flow rom-above the casings to a drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, said pumps communicating with pi e members, the ends of,

said pipe members ing in communication with the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, whereby the mlxture of water and drillings may be pumped to the separator, the drillings being deposited in the receptacle and the water returning to the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, and cable means connected with the cylindrical casing and tubular casing whereby said casings may be raised or lowered independently of each other,

2. A device of the type described comprising a vertical cylindrical casing and'a vertical tubular casing, said tubular casing being disposed within and spaced away from said cylindrical casing, said tubular casing being provided with longitudinally extending anges receivable in a groove formed by longitudinally extending flanges on the inner side of the cylindrical casing whereby said tubular casing is slidable within the cylindrical casing, a vertical shaft mounted within the tubular casing, said shaft being provided with power means, the lower end of said shaft being connected with a drill bit whereby a cylindrical hole may be drilled in the ground, pumps mounted on said shaft within the tubular casing, a v receptacle mounted on said tubular casing, a separator disposed above the receptacle and in communication with said pumps, said spaced-apart cylindrical casing and tubular casing being adapted for permitting water to How rom above the casings to a drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, said pumps communicating with pipe members, the ends of said pipe members being in communication with the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, whereby the mixture of water and drillings may be pumped to the separator, the drillings being deposited in the receptacle and the water returnin to the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, cable means connected with the cylindrical casing andtubular casing whereby said casings may be raised or lowered independently of each other, and weight means disposed on the lower side of said tubular casing for tensioning the cable means.

3. A device of the type described comprising a vertical cylindrical casing and a vertical tubular casing, said tubular casing being dis osed within and spaced away from said cy indrical casing, said tubular casing being provided with longitudinally extending anges receivable in a groove formed by longitudinally extending flanges on the inner side of the cylindrical casing whereby said tubular casing is slidable within the cylindrical casing, a vertical shaft mounted within the tubular casing, said shaft being provided with power means, the lower end of said shaft being. connected with a drill bit whereby a cylindrical hole may be drilled in the ground, pumps mounted on said shaft within the tubular casing, a receptacle mounted on said tubular casing, a separator disposed above the receptacle and in communication with said pumps, said spaced-apart cylindrical casing and tubular casing being adapted for permitting water to flow from above the casings to a drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, said pumps communicating with pipe members, the ends of said pipe members being in communication with the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, whereby the mixture of water and drillings may be pumped to the separator, the drillings being deposited in the receptacle and the water returning to the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, cable means connected with the cylindrical casing and tubular casing whereby said casings may be raised or lowered independently of each other, weight means disposed on the lower side of said tubular casing for tensioning the cable means, and agitator blades mounted on said shaft and disposed within an opening of said weight for mixing the water and the drillings together.

4. A device of the type described comprising a vertical cylindrical casing and a vertical tubular casing, said tubular casing being disposed within and spaced away from said cylindrical casing, said tubular casing being provided with longitudinally extending flanges receivable in a I roove formed by longitudinally extending anges on the inner side of the cylindrical casing whereby said tubular casing is slidable within the cylindrical casing, a vertical shaft mounted within the tubular casing, said shaft being provided with power means, the lower end of said shaft being connected with a drill bit whereby a cylindrical hole may be drilled in the ground, pumps mounted on said shaft within the tubular casing, a receptacle mounted on drillings may be pumped to the separator,

the drillings being deposited in the receptacle and the water returning to the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, cable means connected with the cylindrical casing and tubular casing whereby said casings may be raised or lowered independently of each other, weight means disposed on the lower side of said tubular casing for tensioning the cable means, agitator blades mounted on said shaft and disposed within an opening of said weight for mixing the water and the drillings together, and an agitator pump mounted on said shaft within the tubular member, said agitator pump being in communication with the area adjoining the drill bit, whereby the with power means,

meaaee water and the drillings may be further agitated. i

5. A device of the type described comprising a vertical cylindrical casing and a vertical tubular casing, being disposed within and spaced away from said cylindrical casing, said tubular casing bein provided with longitudinally extending anges receivable in a groove formed by longitudinally extending flanges on the inner side of the cylindrical casing whereby said tubular casing is slidable within the cylindrical casing, a vertical shaft mounted within the tubular casing, said shaft being provided the lower end of said shaft being connected with a drill bit where by a cylindrical hole may be drilled in the ground, pumps mounted on said shaft within the tubular casing, a receptacle mounted on said tubular casing, a separator disposed above the receptacle and in communication with said pumps, said spaced-apart cylindrical casing and tubular casing being adapted for permitting .water to flow from above the casings to a drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, said pumps commun1cat-' ing with pipe members, the ends of said pipe members being in communication with the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, whereby the mixture of water and drillings may be pumped to the separator, the drillings being deposited in the receptacle and the water returning to the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, cable means connected with the cylindrical casing and tubular casing whereby said casings may be raised or lowered independently of each other, weight means disposedon the lower side of said tubular casing for tensioning the cable means, agitator blades mounted on said shaft and disposed within an opening of said weight for mixing the water and the drillings together, an agitator, pump mounted on said shaft within the tubular member, said agitator pump being in communication with the area adj oining the drill bit, whereby the water and the drillings may be further agitated; and transmission means for varying the rotating speed (ill of the driven shaft with that of the power means.

6. A device of the type described compriscasing and a vertical tubular casing, said tubular casing being disposed within and spaced away from said cylindrical casing, said tubular casing bein provided with longitudinally extending angesreceivable in a groove formed by longitudinally extending flanges on the inner side of the cylindrical casing whereby said tubular caslng 1S slidable within the cylindrical casing, a vertical shaft mounted within the tubular casing, said shaft being provided with power means, the lower end of said shaft being connected with a drill bit whereby a cylindrical hole may be drilled in the ground,

said tubular casing,

pumps mounted on said shaft within the tubular casing, a receptacle mounted on said tubular casing, a separator disposed above the receptacle and in communication with said pumps, said spaced-apart cylindrical casin and tubular casing being adapted for permitting Water to flow from above the casings to a drilled opening adjacent the drill,

by said casings may be raised or lowered independently of each other, weight means disposed on the lower side of said tubular casing for tensioning the cable means, agitator blades mounted on said shaft and disposed ,within an opening of said weight for mixing the water and the drillings together, an agitator pump mounted on said shaft within the tubular member, said agitator pump being in communication with the area adj oining the drill bit, whereby the water and the drillings may be further agitated, transmission means for varying the rotating speed of the driven shaft with that of the power means, switch means disposed on said tubular casing and adapted for engaging with the cylindrical casing, said switch means being in communication with the power means, whereby said power means may be started or stopped by the predetermined movement of the tubular casing with respect to the cylindrical casing,

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 28th day of De cember, A. D. 1927. i

PAUL A. i HUNIOKE.

to the drilled opening adjacent the drill bit, cable means connected with the a cylindrical casing and tubular casing where- 

